I Am The Luna (Moonlight Muse) novel Chapter 16

ZAIA.

The entire ride home, I’m dead silent. I don’t know what to make of it. Everything that happened has hit me like a tonne of bricks.

Atticus knew who I was… I knew I should have changed my first name! I should have worn contacts or changed my hair colour! We were too careless.

Goddess, I’m so stupid.

Mom said it isn’t important, but deep down I know it isn’t good enough, I just should have listened to my gut feeling. Plus, stupidly taking her maiden name? It’s all one big stupid mess. I’m angry at myself for just going with it.

Mom has been stressed, I can’t blame her.

It was my duty to think carefully. I should have been firm, even if it meant delaying leaving Dark Hollow Falls for a little while. We should at least have had a more solid backstory.

How was I so foolish to think Atticus wouldn’t investigate it? I bet he does his round of checks on everyone who shows up at his pack looking to reside here.

Of course, he must have!

Why would he let random people in? I mean, anyone could be a spy trying to get in.

Only now do I see how ridiculous it truly is… Everything about this was stupid.

Because we were thinking only in the moment and driven by emotion.

I can’t make that same mistake again.

Now is the time to think carefully and smartly…

“Zaia?” I blink, looking up sharply at Atticus and realise the car has stopped.

I glance out the window and see we are outside our home.

The small hallway window upstairs is glowing with a dim light.

Mom’s still awake…

“I’m sorry I partially lied,” I begin quietly. “I know I shouldn’t have, and you have every right to be angry, but we needed somewhere safe to stay…” I trail off, not knowing what to say, or how I can justify my lie.

He shakes his head, sighing.

“I had a feeling… you may not know, but I have seen you before… Zaia Toussaint… back when you were still part of your father’s pack… remember the Lunar festival? I was there… four years ago.”

My heart skips a beat and I look up sharply at him.

“That was an allied pack event...”

“Well, you’re not the only one to sneak into a pack uninvited. I was younger, wilder, the pleasure in taking a risk was enticing…” He winks at me.

I frown but say nothing, I am in no position to question him.

“I wouldn’t forget those eyes or that hair… I may have been drawn to you too… But then I found out months later you were mated to Sebastian King,” he sighs as he leans back in his seat and places his hand on the steering wheel.

“And although I never saw your face in that mask that night, I recognised your eyes when you stepped into this pack… After all, the true daughter of Hugh Toussaint had eyes as unique as a shadow eclipse or as the saying goes.”

True daughter…

Only my word…

“So, you knew all along,” I state.

“Not completely. Your aura was and is extremely less than what I felt from you four years ago, but a little background check got me some information I was missing. With Sebastian himself not announcing his split or rejection of his fated mate, I was a little confused… but tonight confirmed the rest.”

I nod slowly. “I’m sorry…” I murmur.

We need to leave this pack… there is no way I can stay here any longer. I don’t want to come between Atticus’s and Sebastian’s issues and only make matters worse.

I bet that’s the only reason Sebastian even paid me a little attention.

“Don’t be. You’re safe here, and he cannot get to you,” he says quietly.

Our eyes meet and I simply nod before I open the door. He instantly gets out and comes around, helping me out of the car. I hold my bag tightly, my other hand on my stomach as I look at the moon.

When do things get better?

“Just get some rest. Things will be back to normal tomorrow,” he says, as our eyes meet.

I look up at him and although a part of me wants to believe that, my mind says there are too many red flags.

From here on out, I need to be smart going forward.

“Good night Atticus, and thank you,” I say quietly before I head to the door.

He’s watching me, but I don’t look back until I reach the door, giving him a small wave.

Someone knows I am here in this pack… someone has been poisoning me. I can’t trust anyone… including Atticus….

I want to trust him… but… I can’t risk it…

I unlock the door, and he gives me a smile as I close the door and lock it.

Someone in this pack had met up with Annalise… who?

I can’t trust anyone and it’s time we get out of here. I hurry up the steps and I hear mom’s footsteps as she exits her bedroom.

“Zaia!” she exclaims, looking relieved, although confusion replaces it when she looks at my dress.

I’m about to reply as I stare at her. She’s been looking ill…

“Mom… I want to ask you something. Please answer me truthfully.”

She looks surprised at my question, but she nods fervently.

“How is your health?” I ask quietly, my eyes trained on her.

Her eyes flit around before she looks at me. “F-fine…”

“The truth.”

“I am fine, it’s nothing, I just feel a little tired lately, thats all…”

I frown as I walk over to her. It makes sense if she’s being poisoned too. Who knows how it is being given to me? It could be through our food or even the water system… Whatever it is, someone is out to get us, and I need to protect her at all costs. The doctor had done tests here… had she never picked up on anything?

“Mom. Begin packing. We are going to leave.”

“No, why! What happened, Zaia? Did he find out?”

“Yes Mom, and it was a mistake to go… but I think it was needed. Tonight has been eventful… but… we need to go somewhere safe…” I say, entering my bedroom and taking out one of the empty suitcases from under my bed.